EC: Voters' register for 2000 vote has not
been printed
GJA's stand against obnoxious laws not negotiable – Gifty
Ghana/Nigeria risk being left behind if...
EC: Voters' register for 2000 vote has not
been printed
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 June 2000
The Electoral Commission (EC) said on Friday that it has nothing to do with the alleged voters' register found in Tema and that the electoral roll for this year's vote has not yet been printed.
"The Electoral Commission will take all necessary measures to ensure the credibility and security of the voters register that will be used in the December 8 election," it said in a statement issued in Accra by Mr David Kangah, Deputy Chairman (Operations). The statement is in reaction to an alleged discovery of voters' registers in a carton at Tema.
The EC said its inspection of the "registers" show that these were part of the lists of voters register it distributed to the political parties in April 1996 prior to the exhibition of the Voters' Register that year.
"It is helpful to note that because these 'registers' were provided to the political parties to use in their campaigns, there were no dates on them, and some of the materials used to print them were old NCD (National Commission for Democracy) stationery."
The statement said these lists have not been used for official work since 1992, and will not be used for the 2000 elections.
"The public is therefore assured that any person in possession of these lists cannot use them in any way to influence the results of the 2000 elections."
GRi../
Carpenter (Northern Region) 24 June 2000
Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, has appealed to the electorate to be tolerant of one another's views and exercise maximum restraint in their utterances.
He said as much as politicians are being called upon to be circumspect in their politicking, the electorate should equally ensure that the country has a peaceful and successful elections.
Mr Mahama said this when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of North-Mo traditional area at Carpenter in the Bole district on Thursday.
He urged the people to extend the same support they had given to President Rawlings over the years to vice-President John Atta Mills by voting massively for him and the National Democratic congress in the December elections to enable the party continue with its development programmes.
The minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi, said out of his share of the district assemblies common fund, he had provided 45 million cedis for the purchase of poles to extend electricity to a number of communities in the district.
The Bole district assembly provided 90 million cedis, he said.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 June 2000
Mrs Gifty Afieyi-Dadzie, President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), said in Accra on Thursday that their stand against the repeal of all obnoxious laws inimical to the practice of journalism in the country is not negotiable.
Speaking at the end of a four-day seminar on "Communication and Good Governance; the role of the media technician", Mrs Affenyi-Dadzie said this year represents a critical period in Ghana's search for durable democracy.
"The December eight presidential and parliamentary elections will test the readiness of the media to contribute to democracy and good governance."
Mrs. Afieyi-Dadzie said journalist have very crucial roles to play to strengthen democratic practice in their respective countries.
She said what people in the media must do is to play their role effectively to contribute to quality national debate and encourage dialogue and tolerance.
She exhorted the media to show circumspection and take responsibility for their acts, saying, "any omission or commissions could be costly."
"It does the image of the media no good to be accused of bias or lack of credibility. For once that happens, we cease to have any meaningful impact on national development efforts.
"But the essence of the media is to have a role to play in shaping public policy and arousing the consciousness of our people."
The seminar jointly organised by the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is the third in a series to equip media practitioners to effectively contribute to governance in the sub-region.
About 30 media technicians, sub-editors, desktop personnel and other media personnel from Ghana, Liberia and the Gambia attended. Editors and reporters attended the first two, held in Accra and Cotonou respectively.
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Ghana/Nigeria risk being left behind if...
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 23 June 2000
The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Chief Sam Okerechukwu, has said the two countries risk being left behind if they failed to exploit the current opportunity at integrating their economies to improve the living conditions of their peoples.
"The two countries do not have a choice as to whether to integrate or not because the current globalisation drive demands that they co-operate to share their resources for the development of their countries.
"We should do nothing to bring the clock of progress between the two countries back because we cannot fold hands and watch others progress", he cautioned.
Chief Okechukwu made this remarks when he paid a courtesy call on the Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Patience Adow, at the residency at Koforidua on Thursday.
He said the sub-region is looking up to the two countries to play a leading role in promoting development in the region but cautioned that integration of policies should not be at the expense of the people.
He commended the leaders of both countries for the "fast-track approach" adopted to enhance integration between the two nations and the sub-region.
"The important thing is that the two nations are moving; we are brothers and it is hoped it would continue this way because we have a lot to learn from each other", he added.
Miss Adow recalled the cordial relations that has existed between the two countries especially their co-operation and contribution to peacekeeping in trouble spots in the West African sub-region.
She said in spite of the fact that Francophone countries are dominant in the sub-region, the two countries nevertheless, have been able to take a centre stage in the development of both the sub-region and the continent.
GRi../